chased leaders, 9th halfway, lost place and short of room 3f out, dropped behind and eased straight
soon mid-division, pushed along from 4f out, no impression when checked 1 1/2f out, one pace
soon mid-division, 11th halfway, 9th 3f out, one pace from under 2f out
towards rear, raced on outer straight, soon no impression, one pace
towards rear, 17th halfway, 18th 3f out, no extra and eased 1 1/2f out
mid-division early, soon towards rear, switched right from under 2f out, soon no impression, kept on without threatening
soon mid-division, 13th halfway, pushed along from 6f out, 12th 3f out, no extra from under 2f out
held up, soon towards rear, no impression and kept on from under 2f out
mid-division early, soon raced in 8th, improved into 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well closing stages to hold on at the finish
soon prominent, 6th halfway, 5th 3f out, still 5th 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
led early, soon joined, headed after about 4f, raced in 2nd after until led again from early straight, headed 1 1/2f out, 3rd 1f out, no impression and one pace inside final furlong
towards rear, 19th halfway, not much room on inner early straight, went 4th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, not quite get to winner
soon chased leaders in 10th, switched right 2f out, 8th 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
soon mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, no impression and one pace from under 2f out
towards rear early, soon mid-division in 16th, went 11th 1f out, soon no impression, one pace
chased leaders, good headway to be prominent after about 4f and soon led and clear, pushed along 4f out, headed from early straight, dropped to 9th 1f out, one pace
prominent, soon disputed lead, led from 1 1/2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
prominent, soon raced in 7th, switched right 1 1/2f out, still 7th 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
soon mid-division, 14th from halfway, improved into 6th 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along in 6th 3f out, no extra from under 2f out
towards rear, raced towards outer straight, no impression and one pace from under 2f out
prominent, 3rd and pushed along 3f out, dropped to 10th 1f out, no extra
Sir Ector won this last year and HIDDEN UNIVERSE (NAP) in 2011. Both have continued in good form but it's the latter, who scored at Galway before finishing runner-up in the Irish Cesarewitch a fortnight ago, who is given the nod as he's surprisingly lower in the weights than three years ago. There are few tougher handicaps in the racing calendar and matters are complicated by the presence of Sir Michael Stoute's Stomachion, who is up 7lb for a convincing victory at Doncaster, and Ralph Beckett's Albert Bridge, whose only visit to Ireland resulted in him just failing to concede 17lb to Face Value in this race in 2012. There are least another dozen with realistic chances including Willie Mullins' pair Digeanta and Clondaw Warrior, while Orgilgo Bay has been in good form on the Flat and over hurdles. Artful Artist landed a lucrative handicap over 1m4f at Galway and won't mind the step-up in trip and Tony Martin also has Spacious Sky and Pyromaniac entered, the latter on a lowly mark though he was engaged to run in the 5.25 here yesterday.
Cosmic Cannonball (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Soon raced in 4th, pushed along approaching straight, 5th 3f out, no impression from 2f out, dropped to 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 5l behind Tarfasha (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 2 flls (1) gf in Sep.
Sir Ector (USA) 12-1 (9-12) Held up in 5th, ridden into 3rd 2f out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Forgotten Rules (9-5) at Galway 1m 6f stks gd in Aug.
Stomachion (IRE) 15-2 (9-1) In touch, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Sep beating Retirement Plan (9-9) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) In rear, pushed along under 3f out, bit short of room on rail 1 1/2f out, switched right and ridden, kept on final furlong, no threat, 11th of 16, 8l behind Rocky Bleier (9-1) at Naas 1m 4f hcp.
Majenta (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, a little keen, pushed along in 19th before straight, not much room 2f out, soon no extra, 19th of 21, 23l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp.
Artful Artist (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Towards rear, 14th 5f out, raced towards outer straight, switched left over 2f out, 13th 1f out, kept on well without threatening final furlong, 6th of 15, 5l behind Adjusted (8-8) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Sep.
Orgilgo Bay (IRE) 5-6fav (11-2) Led, pushed along 2 1/2f out, strongly pressed 2f out, soon joined, headed over 1f out, no impression and one pace final furlong, 2nd of 3, 3 1/2l behind Lucky Bridle (10-7) at Bellewstown 1m 4f am stks (4yo+) sft in Aug.
Digeanta (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway under pressure 3f out, soon ridden, challenged 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 33, 2 1/2l behind Big Easy (8-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd.
Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 3-1fav (8-11) Mid-division, 14th before straight, no impression from 2f out, dropped to 16th and no extra from over 1f out, 18th of 21, 21l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp.
Hidden Universe (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, 5th before straight, improved to challenge 2f out, soon disputed lead, headed inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 21, 1l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp.
Hisaabaat (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Raced in 4th early before soon improving into 3rd, ridden from over 3f out, no impression and weakened from 1f out, 7th of 10, 9l behind Bayan (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Jul.
Spacious Sky (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Rear of mid-division, 14th entering straight, progress under 2f out and went 7th 150 yards out, kept on, 6th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Toe The Line (8-11) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gf in Sep.
Coolfighter (GER) 6-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride and in rear, some progress on inner entering straight, ridden in 8th 2f out, went 4th 1f out, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Azurite (9-6) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gf in Sep.
Gentleman Duke (IRE) 6-1 (8-9) Dwelt, towards rear, kept on without threatening under pressure straight, 4th of 10, 6l behind Park Ranger (8-11) at Listowel 1m 1f hcp hvy in Sep '11.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Dwelt, always behind, no impression from 3f out, never a factor, last of 10, 10l behind Wexford Town (8-4) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
Ballyadam Brook (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Led and clear, reduced lead from over 6f out, headed over 4f out, dropped to 10th 3f out, soon no extra and eased, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind Mutual Regard (9-7) at Curragh 2m hcp 60-100 gf in Jun.
Albert Bridge 5-1 (10-0) Driven forward, soon prominent, hard ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 10, 11l behind Annaluna (8-10) at Chester 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Aug.
Cliff House (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, 7th and progress from before straight, one pace under pressure from over 1f out, 7th of 21, 5l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp.
Waydownsouth (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, 6th 2f out, kept on without threatening on outer to go 3rd under 1f out, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Quartz (8-12) at Gowran Park 1m 1f stks 0-85 gf in Sep.
Eye Of The Tiger (GER) 14-1 (8-4) Towards rear, 16th before straight, went 11th under pressure over 1f out, soon no impression, one pace, 13th of 21, 10l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp.
Massini's Trap (IRE) 25-1 (7-13) Soon rear of mid-division, took keen hold, last before straight, kept on without threatening final furlong, 9th of 21, 6l behind El Salvador (9-5) at Curragh 2m hcp.
Street Party 9-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden before straight, no extra 2f out, 6th over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 9l behind Senyuman (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol in Dec.
Bank Bonus 33-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along and lost place from 5f out, 9th from 3f out, soon no extra and eased inside final furlong, 11th of 12, 39l behind Thomas Edison (8-12) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp in Apr.
Pyromaniac (IRE) 5-2fav (9-8) Mid-division, closed over 3f out, 4th over 2f out, 2nd straight and soon challenged, led inside final furlong, soon pressed and stayed on well, just held on,, won at Galway 1m 4f hcp 50-80 in Aug beating Pivot Bridge (9-7) by shd, 10 ran.
Odit (GER) (9-11) won at Bad Doberan(GER) 2m 2f 3yo stks in Aug '13, 0 ran.
